general problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander - part 2

46 problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2021 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2021 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2021 Highlander.

36 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/03/2022

We have owned our 2021 hybrid awd platinum Highlander for 8 months and within the past two months (around 16k miles) it has started to do an acceleration upon applying the brake. The car does catch itself and then after hitting the brake harder it does stop. This has happen on 7 different occasions, flat roads, hills, parking spots now. It has happened while my husband drives it and myself. It was brought it for computer recalls around the same time that this issue started. After the recalls were fixed I brought it back in and left it with the dealer for a few days. They cannot replicate it and therefor won’t do anything. They tried to tell me that I can’t drive with two feet…. Which I don’t. I’ve seen other reports where Toyota claims it’s inexperienced regenerative braking driving. We have owned a 2011 prius that we had for 6 years and it never did it once. We also had a 2021 Audi e-from which fully relies on regenerative braking. We are not novice when it comes to hybrid driving systems. It has come to the point where I’d like to sell the car and get something else rather than worry about a car crash with my babies in the car. I also owned a 2019 awd regular gas Highlander that never had any braking issues. So I don’t know what the solution is, but this is a very expensive car to be having these kinds of issues.

37 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/02/2022

When bringing my 2021 Toyota Highlander hybrid awd with ~18,000 miles on the odometer to the Toyota dealership for a flat tire and recall, they performed a routine multi point inspection. They found the inverter radiator was punctured and was leaking coolant. They said to fix it would be $1,640. The service representative text me “the technician also noticed that the inverter radiator is leaking coolant, which is a very important and vital part of the hybrid system. It looks to be that a rock from the road was the source of the damage, which since moving down here [az] I’ve seen happen quite often…. I would strongly advise against driving the vehicle that far (~200 mi) for fear of it overheating and causing more damage. The technician said will end up happening is…the vehicle will overheat and shut down to save the inverter from further damage. This is a very, very important part of the hybrid system. “ when I asked the technician how a rock could cause the puncture and cause the coolant to leak without my knowledge, she said “it sits right behind the front grill and it’s pretty easy to get hit by a rock when you’re driving. ” I told her that sounds like a design flaw and asked if there’s a part that can protect this from occurring again. She didn’t know of any Toyota parts to reduce this reoccurrence, but suggested I could look online to buy an aftermarket part. What’s alarming are the photos of the damage and the coolant spraying out from the leak all over the inverter radiator, how much coolant was lost due to this damage, and that I never had a warning light or notification. The car was driving fine and had no warning lights until I got a flat tire the day before the Toyota dealer found the inverter puncture.

38 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/24/2022

On may 24th I was driving back to work form my lunch break, had to make an additional stop before going back and in the moment I was to make a right suddenly the car would not stop or turn, no light were on at the moment, now the car is a total loss and I went trough the scariest time of my life after running into mangroves.

39 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/12/2022

This is in regards to a 2021 Toyota platinum awd with 8500 miles. While cruising at about 40 miles/hour, the car suddenly lost power, and an alpha numeric code popped on the digital display that said “chip malfunction” and something else I don’t recall. It also said to see your dealer immediately. On the dash, the check engine light came on with a message that said “reduced engine power”. This message alternated with another alpha numeric code. I did not write down the actual codes because I thought the car would record them. I was able to roll onto a side street and turn off the car. After 5 min, I restarted the car and took it to the dealer later that day. They not only could not find a code in the record, the entire trip was not recorded, even though it’s on my Toyota app. First, they tried to say it couldn’t have happened because it was not recorded. Then, they said the recall regarding a power issue was the culprit, but also admitted the “fix” had nothing to do with, and would not affect, the engine. After insisting more be done to id the problem and fix it, they agreed to keep the car and run a diagnostic. It turned up nothing except “maybe bad gas”. Really? we only use premium from reputable sources. I do not feel safe on the car and most certainly do not feel safe putting my child in it. I cannot believe they cannot find the problem.

40 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 02/12/2022

The vehicle's automatic stop-start feature malfunctioned and shut the engine off while I was driving with my 3 children in the car. Our safety was at risk because the car shut off in the middle of the road and we had to wait for an hour for the tow truck to come and give us a jump. There was no prior warning before the car shut off. Afterwards the message "high power consumption partial limit on ac/heater operation" came on I was very nervous for my kids and I safety.

41 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 02/02/2022

Varias veces mientras conduzco en la ruta la velocidad permitida, el carro frena, pierde potencia el motor, el sistema DE aceleración no responde, esas veces me salve DE accidentes mortales junto a mi familia, reclame a Toyota corporación indicar eso y para ellos no paso nada nunca tomaron en serio, mientras que el carro para reparar eso, paso más DE 25 días en las veces que se daño xq prácticamente el carro no ES seguro para manejar.

42 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 11/29/2021

Recently purchased this Highlander on August 2021. On 11/29/21 at around 8:00 am, the check engine light illuminated resting stop at a red light. Engine still running. Took the vehicle to the dealership at 9:45am. Vehicle was found to have had misfires as a result of bad gasoline. I have been pumping at the same gas station ever since I bought the vehicle. If it was the bad gas, this issue should have happened sooner. Now, the dealership is telling me to pay for the diagnostic fee which they claimed it was my fault. The vehicle is under warranty. Another non-power/fuel issue that came with the vehicle was a loud wind noise when reaching 40 mph. The noise is very annoying, like someone whistling into your ear. The dealership is ordering a part to fix this issue. The vehicle is still at the dealership.

43 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 11/25/2021

Advertisement say make 35 mpg is lie car make 16 to 24 mpg Ave not more than that I decide buy this car for save gas, and spend more that any v6, Toyota still a lot money and fake advertisement, and also the dealer charge $3,000 more of the price because they say there are not cars, I paid $ 55,000 + taxes super expensive car for lie at the costumers. I went to service to the dealer and they said, that it is not they problem, the car is like that, I hope you can help to return or change the car.

44 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/16/2021

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the roadway before the vehicle stalled again. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200.

45 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/13/2021

Upon attempting to engage the brakes, it was found that they did not work. Immediately thereafter, the car began an uncommanded full acceleration. The insurance company has totaled the car. Our safety as occupants was obviously at serious risk. The driver chose to take the car off the road rather than jeopardize the lives of others on the same road. The car plowed through boulders and trees, coming to rest upside down wedged between an earthen berm and a tree. . . . . . Suspended about 2 feet above the ground. There were no warnings prior to the incident. The car has been inspected by the insurance company, and has been authorized for inspection by the manufacturer. There were no serious injuries as a result of the accident. We were very lucky! uncommanded acceleration without any control is a frightening event any time. . . . But definitely in the vicinity of other vehicles full of families.

46 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 12/31/1969

I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander platinum awd equipped with the 3\. 5l v6 and approximately 77,000 miles\. The vehicle developed a humming/whining, airplane\-like noise from the front drivetrain while accelerating\. The noise increases with vehicle speed and stops when the accelerator is released\. There is no vibration, and the vehicle makes the same noise while traveling straight\. I took the vehicle to an authorized Toyota dealer, kerry Toyota, and the dealer diagnosed the transmission as the source of the noise and recommended replacement of the transmission\. The quoted replacement cost is approximately $7,600 plus tax\. Toyota previously issued technical service bulletin t\-sb\-0008\-21 concerning a whine or grind from certain 2021 Highlander ua80 transmissions and identifying the front carrier assembly pinion shafts as a potential cause\. My vehicle is approximately 17,000 miles beyond Toyota’s 60,000\-mile powertrain warranty\. I contacted Toyota requesting goodwill assistance with the transmission replacement, and Toyota declined assistance\. I believe there may be many similar cases involving 2021 Toyota Highlanders equipped with the ua80 transmission, including vehicles experiencing comparable whining or grinding noises and premature transmission\-related failures\. I am reporting this because an internal transmission problem that develops shortly beyond the powertrain warranty may worsen and could potentially result in loss of vehicle propulsion\. I believe NHTSA should review this issue along with similar complaints involving 2021 Toyota Highlanders equipped with the ua80 transmission\.


Other Engine And Engine Cooling related problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander


☘ Highlander Service Bulletins
⚑ Highlander Safety Recalls
☤ Highlander Defect Investigations